Ball joint



Dec. 31, 1929. I H, s BURNHAM 1,741,975

BALL JOINT Filed July 8. 1927 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 HARRY S, BURNHAM,OF SCHENECTDY", NEWT YRK BALL Application filed July 8,

This invention relates to flexible oints for pipes, ot the ball andsocket type, and its object is to provide an appliance ot such chanacter that will be ot strong, simple, and inex- 5 pensive construction,and, in the operation ot' which, mean-s will be afforded tor properlypacking Vthe oint, and maintaining the tightness of the packing towithstand high pressure in the connected pipe sections.

,o rlhe improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set torth.

ln the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectionthrough a ball joint, illustrating an application ot the invention; Fig.2, a transverse section through the same, on the line a a ot Fig. l;Fig. 3, a side view, partly in sect-ion, and on an enlarged scale, thebearing gland; Fig. 4, a tace view of the same, as seen from the right;Fig. 5, a side view, partly in section, and on an enlarged scale, of thecompression ring; and, Fig. 6, a transverse section through the same, onthe line 7J Z) ot Fig. 5.

In the practice ot the invention, lreferring descriptively to thespecilic embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, a ball member,la, in the term ot a section of a sphere, is formed or fixed on one endof a pipe section, l, and, is itted, with the intcrposition ot suitablepacking, in a socket member, Ll, which is formed or lined on theadjoining end ot an adjoining pipe section, Ll, means for compressingthe packing to maintain a tight jointbeing also applied, as hereinafterdcscribed.

To this end, there is provided a bearing gland, 3, of annular term,having a projection ot smaller diameter on one of its sides, recessed toform aninternal bearing face, 3, which is curved correspondingly withthe surface ot the ball member, la. The projection of the bearing glandhas an external screw threat 3b, cut upon it, and the bearing gland isrigidly secured to the socket member, "f 4, by bolts, 2, passing throughinterposed longitudinal spacing rings, ab, and through the bearinggland, 3, said bolts being engaged by tightening nuts, 2, bearing on the'face of the gland, 3, further trom the s cket memeo ber. As hereinillustrated, the gland, 3, is

JOINT 927. Serial No. 204,215.

formed in one piece, but it may, if preferred, be split into twosections, as for application on curved pipe.

The packing ring, 5, which is interposed between the ball andthe socketmembers, may Q,

be of any suitable known material, and is brought to a tight bearing onsaid members, by adjustment of a ccmpresson ring, t3, litting` in thesocket member, between the packing ring and the bearing gland, andhaving an internal screw thread, 6, out upon it, which engages theexternal screw thread, 3b, ot the bearing gland, 3. A follower ring, 7,is located between the packing ring, 5, and the compression ring, 6,through which follower ring the compression ring bears on the `packingring, and recesseab, are formed in the periphery ot the compressionrin-g, into which a. tool, 8, may be inserted, between the spacingrings, ab, lfor turning the compression ring, to eliiect the adjustmentthereof proper to exert the necessary pressure of said ring on thepacking ring. j

lt will be seen that the invention comprehends a construction in which arigid outer .i

bearing gland withstands the outward thrust on the ball member, due tofluid pressure in the pipe sections, and an adjustable packingcompression ring, the pressure ot' which can be uniformly increased, asfrom time to time required to prevent leakage, without disturbing theconnection or adjustment of the rigdly connected bearing gland. Thesimplicity and facility of adjustment ot' the appliance will be manifestto those skilled in the art, i'

together with the fact that such adjustment by those unfamiliar with itsprinciple as would clamp the ball member too tightly together, will beprevented.

The invention herein claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patentis:

l. In a ball joint appliance for pipes, the combination ot a ballmember; a socket member, having a concave bearing tace engaging theconvex inner end of the ball member, and a plurality of spaced membersextending trom the outer end ot said socket member, having outer facescooperating to form a seat; a gland rigidly secured to the socketmember, having a concave bear- Thi ing face engaging the conveX outerend of the ball member, and cooperating with the concave bearing face ofthe socket member, to retain said ball member against longitudinalmovement, said gland abutting said seat, whereby said concave facescooperate to pei mit rotation of the ball Without play; a packinginterposed between the ball and socket members; and an axially rotatablering, in-

terposed between the socket member and gland, and having threadedengagement with one of said last specified members, whereby the ring maybe advanced to increase the pressure on the packing, said ring havingmeans, exposed between said spaced members, for the application of atool to effect advancing of said ring.

2. In a ball joint appliance for pipes, the combination of a ballmember; a socket member, having a concave bearing face engaging theconvex inner end of the ball member, and a plurality of spaced membersextending from the outer end of said socket member, having outer facescooperating to form a seat; a gland rigidly secured to the socketmember, having a concave bearing face engaging the convex outer end ofthe ball member, and cooperating with the concave bearing face of thesocket member, to retain said ball member against longitudinal movement,said gland abutting said seat, whereby said concave faces cooperate topermit rotation of the ball without play; a packing interposed betweenthe ball and socket members; and an axially rotatable ring, interposedbetween the socket member and gland, and having threaded engagement withthe said gland, whereby the ring may be advanced to increase thepressure on the packing, said ring having means exposed between saidspaced members for the application of a tool to effect advancing of saidring.

HARRY S. BURNHAM.

